In recent years, working from home has seen an explosion. It has become very popular in the corporate world, where allowing employees to work from home has proven a benefit to both employer and employee. However, the biggest increase in working from home has come from the myriad of home based Affiliate Programs out there. In fact, in this down economy, entry in affiliate programs has seen such an increase that you might even call 2009 the “year of the affiliate”.

Working from home through affiliate programs with internet marketing can give you the best of both worlds: a sizeable income plus the chance to make your career work with your personal life rather than having your personal life come second to your career. However, the most important trick is finding the right Internet Marketing program for you.

We all know that about 50% of all new businesses fail. That figure is closer to 90% for affiliate programs – for two simple reasons. The first is that many internet marketing programs are scams – plain and simple. The second reason is that many people entering an affiliate program aren’t really prepared to put in the work that’s required – or they plan to “do it their own way” rather than following the set plan that’s proven to work.

If you’re interested in being part of an affiliate program, there are many opportunities out there – and many of them are perfectly legitimate. But you must choose carefully. Making certain that you thoroughly investigate an affiliate program before you commit is critical. Be certain you’ve checked references and feel comfortable that the program is legitimate.

Once you’ve determined that a program is legitimate, however, it’s just as important that you determine that you’re willing to put in the work that’s required and follow the steps as laid out for you. While it’s true that many people make a good living with internet marketing programs, be certain that you focus on the work involved, and not just the profits while making your decision. With some wise choices and some hard work, this year could be the Year Of The Affiliate for you too!